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Exterior Building a Home Design Dilemma

Need help designing exterior finish.

Jessica Degelder

5 years ago

We are going for a modern farmhouse style, initially thinking white board and batten on top half, skinnier Hardie on the bottom half with cedar in the entrance. I’m wondering if it won’t have enough depth or if we should add more cedar somehow.

Any suggestions/ideas would be amazing! Thank you :)

Featured Answer

lyfia

5 years ago

last modified: 5 years ago

Board and batten over the entire front it will keep it more classic looking - maybe cedar in the entry, but that will pull it more towards a modern house and not so much farmhouse and I think it will look a bit more confused. My preference would be one material. You do have enough space to have board and batten where the window is. With it across the whole front it won't look out of place. See the edge of the roof overhang shown in the above picture posted by Claire. It may just be 2 battens, but that is perfectly fine.

Your inspiration picture does nothing for me.

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Comments (16)

User
5 years ago
I would do the batten all throughout the facade
PRO
PPF.
5 years ago
What Claire said, and no cedar.
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Jessica Degelder
Original Author
5 years ago
The issue with doing the board and batten over the entire front is that there isn’t really enough space on either side of the front window for it to fit. This is where I got my inspiration from.
User
5 years ago
Hi Jessica, how much space do you have at your window? From the inspa I attached it seems about the same amount of spac Unless the pic you attachef of the house isn’t really yours
cpartist
5 years ago
I'm not following. Why wasn't this decided on before you started building? Don't you have an elevation drawing?
Jessica Degelder
Original Author
5 years ago
You’re right, there may be enough space beside the front window. I was just worried it wouldn’t look quite right.

We are going for a modern farmhouse so I’m okay with it not looking 100% farmhouse. I actually love my inspo picture, it’s a house I drive by frequently and love it every time I see it.

We do have elevation drawings that show how we initially thought we wanted it to look but definitely didn’t need to decide on exterior finish before we started building. The drawing also shows the eyebrow roof which we decided against.

So you’re all thinking all board and batten, even in the entry?!
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
5 years ago
I guess if you lovethe inspo house ( I can’t imagine why) then do what you want . IMO a bit of a confused facade
A Fox
5 years ago
I think the original drawing definitely had a few too many things going on, so wanting to try something different would be reasonable. Has the little metal roof been deleted from the project? I definitely don't think your house needs it or wants it. A belly band running around even with the top of the window should be enough to add interest.

I do think that board and batten would work well top and bottom. You should be able to get at least one batten, maybe two depending on the scale on either side of the first floor window, and enough below to continue the theme.

I do think you could do something contrasting at the front door, but the cedar, as well as the inspiration picture is less "modern farmhouse" and more just plain modern. Maybe consider doing vertical tongue and groove or narrow lap siding in a contrasting color there, like a dark taupe instead.
Jessica Degelder
Original Author
5 years ago
Thank you, A Fox for the actual constructive feedback - I appreciate it :)
lyfia
5 years ago
I think all over board and batten, but do a cedar ceiling by the entry. I think that would give you some of the cedar without making it look too off to the eye.
PRO
Color Zen
5 years ago
Have a professional render options in color, worth every cent. Looking at black/white drawings can be deceiving. Exteriors are so crucial & often pushed off. Take the time to get it perfect. GL :)
R. C.
5 years ago
When deciding on our house exterior, I used siding visualizers that I found online. You might want to try that.

I think the full board & batten looks more cohesive, but if you really like the inspiration house, try the look on yours with a visualizer. It really helped me more than just drawing it out.

Good luck to you!
Jessica Degelder
Original Author
5 years ago
Do you have any visualizers that you would recommend?
R. C.
5 years ago
I used mernards andthis one. Neither had exactly the siding brand we were supposed to choose from, but they were close enough.
Jessica Degelder
Original Author
5 years ago
Thank you very much!

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